Renewables

How can localities buy and build local renewable energy generation capacity? Ken Smokoska describes the opportunities afforded by California's Community Choice law AB117. Nick Alter and Aeron Arlin Genet describe the coalition of business, environmental, university, county and city governments that took part in the summit, and where some of the outcomes can lead. Episode 41.

Rita Schenck and Deirdre Grace advocate forming a Vashon Island public utility district to produce electricity locally from renewable resources, starting with an aggressive voluntary conservation program to improve building efficiencies. Check out the Institute for Environmental Research and Education's 10-year plan for community energy independence at www.iere.org. Episode 29.

Professor Peter F. Smith is Special Professor in Sustainable Energy, Nottingham University, UK. He sits on the housing committee of the Energy Savings Trust and wrote Architecture in a Climate of Change (Architecture Press). In this interview with GPM correspondent Richard Scrase, Smith discusses the pros and cons of several renewable energies including wind, wave/tidal, solar, and Stirling engines and the pressing need for them.

Keith Barnham is a professor of physics at Imperial College London. In this interview with GPM correspondent Richard Scrase, Barnham comments on the recent UK government energy review. He makes the link between the UK military demand for nuclear material and the governments decision to go for the nuclear option. Barnham also explains how solar energy can provide the UK with much of its energy, if we follow the lead of Germany, Japan and many other countries.

Dr David Hart is Head of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research at ICEPT, Imperial College, London, UK. In this conversation with Global Public Media correspondent Richard Scrase, Hart discusses his reaction to the recent Energy Review by the United Kingdom government and the role of hydrogen and fuel cells in a post carbon economy.

Watch Ron Cole of MagneGas demonstrate converting any liquid to a gas similar to natural gas--and then drive off in the compressed-gas vehicle so fueled! He envisions its use in sewage treatment and neighborhood 'gas production' units that could plug into the natural gas grid. Episode 25.